A 23-year-old died of cervical cancer because doctors said she was too young for a smear test, her devastated family have claimed. Mercedes Curnow, from Cornwall, first went to her GP at 20 years old but her mother says her symptoms were 'ignored' because of her age. After a year of doctors visits, Ms Curnow was taken to A&E by a family member and diagnosed with cervical cancer in April 2010. But by then it was too late and, after 33 radiotherapy sessions and nine months of chemotherapy, she died at home in her mother's arms on December 14 last

A Department of Health spokesperson said an expert committee found that screening in women aged under 25 does more harm than benefit.

...

'Cervical cancer and mortality from it are very rare in women under 25. Since the starting age was raised in England in 2003 there has been no increase in mortality in women aged 20 to 24 or 25 to 30 years old.'

That may well be true but when someone actually has the signs of a disease, you don't refer to some routine guidelines - you test them. Even though teenagers don't get routine mammograms, if one presents with a hard lump in her breast, you test it.

Is there something in the government health system that prevents people from paying out of pocket to have these services done? If I was that concerned about a health issue, I would have the test done whether the government agreed to pay for it or not.
The NHS used to pay for Pap smears at 21, then raised it to 23, now to 25. Cervical cancer is generally caused by HPV (human papilloma virus). These girls are getting infected very young, and the cancer progresses quickly. Next up...oral cancers caused by HPV will surpass oral cancers caused by tobacco and alcohol use!

I do know one woman who was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 24. Although statistically rare, her doctor did a biopsy and then a radical mastectomy. Fortunately for her, the surgery and chemo worked. Makes me shudder to think what would have happened if she was in the U.K. or if it occurred here... after Obama care.

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